'The Beach Boys' Christmas Album'

In 1963, Brian Wilson attended sessions for Phil Spector's Christmas Album, A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector. He even played a piano track for the song "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" which Spector later removed. To this day Brian claims it as his favorite album. In December of 1963, The Boys released the perennial Christmas favorite "Little Saint Nick" a yuletide re-write of "Little Deuce Coupe" recorded on October 20th of 1963 at United Western Recorders. In June of 1964 Brian decided to record an entire album of Christmas songs. Opening with the aforementioned St. Nick. The version of "Little St. Nick" on the Christmas album removed the notable sleighbell and glockenspiel overdubs from the 63 version to make the sound consistent with the rest of the album.

Opening with a falsetto line from Brian is "The Man With All The Toys" which was the groups single for the Christmas Season of 1964.

Santa's Beard is next with Mike Love on lead vocals singing about a young boy pulling the beard off a department store Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas, Baby, Is an ironically titled-song about a guy unconvincingly trying to convince his girlfriend to forgive him for cheating on her. It is also sung by Mike Love. Dennis's pounding drums energize the song.

"Christmas Day" is the first ever lead vocal by Al Jardine on a Beach Boys song. The following year He would notably sing lead on "Help Me Rhonda".

The rest of the album is several Christmas standards with orchestral arrangements by Dick Reynolds. Arranger for Brian's favorite vocal group The "Four Freshman" whom Brian described as being "like a god" to him.

"Frosty The Snowman" was a song written by Walter Rollins and Steve Nelson. It was popularized by a version by Gene Autrey. Years later in 1969 it would be adapted into an animated Christmas special by Rankin/Bass.

Some Middle-Eastern instrumentation brings us into "We Three Kings Of Orient Are" It is a harmony between Brian and Mike reminiscent of the times in the 50s they would harmonize on Christmas Carols at Family events. The song which describes the biblical story of the three kings or Magi who were sent on a journey following the star of Bethlehem to the location of the infant Christ.

"Blue Christmas" was a song Brian took for himself to sing solo. It was written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and popularized by Elvis Presley.

"Santa Clause Is Coming To Town" was written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. The Beach Boys Version includes manic circus like instrumentation.

"White Christmas" was written by Irving Berlin for the musical film. Holiday Inn. It was popularized by Bing Crosby whose version of the song was for a long time the biggest selling single of all time.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" was written by composer Walter Kent and lyricist Kim Gannon. It was originally written to honor soldiers who longed to be home for Christmas during the dark years of World War II.

The final track is a stunning performance of "Auld Lang Syne" by the Boys. Dennis Wilson chimes in with a holiday message to listeners wishing that the "New Year will bring as much joy as this year has given us".

Clearly not feeling much joy around that time was Brian who suffered a nervous breakdown on a plane bound for Houston during a tour that December. Brian would return home to Los Angeles and told the other guys he would no longer tour with them. He said he saw a great future for the Beach Boys but it would only be possible if he could stop touring. The band reluctantly agreed.